Khulna jute mills workers block roads, railways

A half-day railway and road blockade programme, called by the workers of 2 jute mills in Mirerdanga, Khulna, which remained fully closed for the last one year, demanding reopening of the mills and payment of their arrears, got underway on Saturday. The workers of ‘Sonali Jute Mills’ and ‘Ajax Jute Mills’ placed barricades on Khulna-Jessore Highway in Phulbari Gate area around 8:00am, disrupting traffic on the busy road. Several hundred vehicles got stranded on both sides of the road, causing immense sufferings to the commuters. On Friday evening, the workers and employees of the two jute mills brought out a torch procession in Phulbari Gate area demanding payment of their due arrears and reopening of the mills. Shayekhul Islam, a leader of Workers’ Employees Union, announced the half-day road and railway blockade programme in the district to press home the demands, according to UNB.